Amendment Story:
Amendment Story
The Christmas tree was glowing in the middle of the room, it made sense with all the lead lights it had. The candles on the coffee table were still burning, the whole room smelled like cinnamon. The clock in the middle of the living room rang, meaning it was 6 o'clock. It was was Christmas Eve and Enrique's and Joseph's family were going to spend Christmas together. This was one of the most special time of the year time to love, give, and forgive. Enrique was eager for Joseph and his family to arrive. He and Joseph were good friends and never spent as much good time as in Christmas. Then the door bell rang, it was Joseph and the rest of his family. Both families were now in the living room talking about how everything was going for them. The adults were drinking coffee while the kids had chocolate milk and were playing on the computer.
The night was cold but they had a special tradition as Catholics. They go to the midnight mass. Enrique loved the fact that it was Christmas, but he disliked that he had to go to mass. He didn't like it because he thought he could be doing other interesting and fun things. He did believe in God, and respected him. But he would never say what he felt to his friends because he was afraid they might judge him. Enrique didn't want to be teased so he would always stay quiet about his religion having the fear inside him. He thought the United States were like other countries, where you weren't allowed to choose or exercise your religion.
It was time to leave for the midnight mass. It wasn't exactly midnight mass but typically in other places there is a mass at midnight. Enrique's and Joseph's family left the house at about 9:30pm. The mass was at 10:00pm so they had enough time to get there and find a good spot. When they arrived, there were people gathered inside and outside the church. There church wasn't big. It was a small church. During mass while the Priest was speaking, Enrique heard something. The priest clearly said “We are lucky, here in the United States we have freedom of religion and are protected while we don't break the law. We should all give thanks for that. There are people who don't have this right.” All of a sudden Enrique realized he could tell everyone and shouldn't be afraid of who he was. The rest of that night was great they had a great time opening the gifts and playing.
The next day Joseph was on the computer he was reading through all of the latest news when he found something that interested him. Joseph was more of a outgoing person. He would always say what he felt. Though he was not the type of kid that had the best grades he had A, B's and C's. Joseph felt that he should have liberty and freedom to do as he pleases but not break any law in any way.
Since Joseph, his brother, and sister had winter break they decide to stay over at Enrique's house until Enrique's sister birthday. Which was at the end of January.
"Enrique, Enrique, come hurry lets go on Facebook, before our parents wake up! lets find out about our Facebook account.” whispered Joseph to Enrique who was more asleep then awake.
“I am going, but don't you realize its past four!?” answered Enrique in a tried and annoyed tone.
“Yes, yes but you have to see the latest celebrity's news” called Joseph from the living room.
They were planning to stay up all the way until six or a quarter of six. By now the living room was cold and outside it was really foggy. For Joseph and Enrique to get to the celebrity page it took them a long while because there computer was running slow since there were so many programs up and running. Now they were on the page it read “Lindsay Lohan, out of jail after she paid a major bail!” Below that in the article it talked about how for her own safe she was isolated and she would have to go to rehabilitation.
“Seriously, she's in again?” commented Enrique after reading. His whole face was red and blushing he had been laughing for more than ten minutes. Though he knew he could have woken up his parents.
“Yeah your right but she must have her reasons for breaking the law again. Maybe depression or something else, but it is not an excuse for her to be doing it. I think we should talk about her career and all the problems she has been through.” Joseph was saying.
Enrique and Joseph were up until six and then went to bed. They spent their whole time on Facebook and looking up Lindsay Lohan. They kept changing their mind about the press talking bad about Lindsay, but then they realized that it was all basically true and they weren't slandering, or causing danger or libeling. The night went by fast the next morning they would be exhausted.
It was a Sunday morning and everybody was in th living room watching television when the breaking news appeared. There had been a shooting. It all happened in Tucson, Arizona. The person who had shot many people had permission to have an arm. Which in the constitution is protected because everyone has the right to bear arms. The lady giving the report was biased and was saying if this was a result of the 5th Amendment.
“Seriously? Why is it that people that have been reported with mental problems and are not recorded or gotten treatment are the one's who do all the shootings and killings against innocent people!” Joseph was commenting but, by now he was red. He usually didn't talk about news he thought they were a waste of time for kids since only adults pay attention to them.
“Did you seriously just say that? Out of all people you were actually paying attention to the news today.” asked Enrique, with a face that was about to blast in laughter. By now everybody was not focusing on the news and had their attention on Joseph and Enrique.
“Don't judge him, he can pay attention to if he wants and you should be happy because he as actually learning good stuff not looking at celebrity updates.” Glenda, Josephs mom was saying.
Enrique face changed instantly. He was shocked and was heading out of the room just trying to leave. By now he was sure that his aunt must have heard or saw him and Joseph up last night. Joseph had worried face, he didn't know if they might get in trouble for being awake, being on Facebook or because they were hiding everything from their parents.
“Yesterday I woke up like at about four thirty or five in the morning and heard some noise. I went to go see and found Enrique and Joseph on their computers on Facebook looking through celebrity gossip. I know that both of you guys haven't ask permission for a Facebook. Why were none of you trying to not wake up us adults up? Huh?” explained Glenda with angry face but inside felt like laughing at them both her son and her niece.
“Really? Now we need to talk.” Enrique's mom ordered.
“You guys didn't believe me, did you? This was all a joke yeah they were awake last night in the morning but they had my permission and no they don't have a Facebook. Don't worry sister, you know how responsible your son is don't you? Now lets go back to watching the news.” blurted Glenda while she was laughing hysterically.
The Arizona shooting was known all over. Now they were talking about were did the trial would be. It couldn't take place in Arizona because all of the judges were biased. Enrique was involved in all of this because his girlfriends family member was shot as was in critical condition.
The person who shot at least twelve people has the right to have an unbiased trial because of the sixth Amendment. This means that the defendant has the right to a speedy and unbiased trial. Since it should be unbiased the state o Arizona was planning to have the trial be conducted by a San Diego,CA judge and that the trial could take place in San Diego, California. This case was going to take long and be painful.
Enrique's girlfriend was sad most of the time and need much support from her family and friends. Enrique was with her all the way and though the trial painful but it was fair the criminal got what he deserved and there was no problems with following the laws. Enrique would always talk to Lizbeth, his girlfriend, about how God would help and now he wasn't afraid to tell everyone what he believed and liked. This made him able to express himself how he wanted though for some people this can be hard and they don't want to express how they feel or what they think.


Controversial Constitutional Amendments

1. Amendment 1:
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."

2. Expository text explaining if biased or or not:


3. Two Articles:

In Favor:


(http://katzjustice.com/underdog/archives/2079-Stop-excessive-bail-and-excessive-sentences..html)
Againstthe Amendment:


http://gardencity.patch.com/articles/judge-denies-bail-reduction-for-susan-williams

4. My opinion:
Persuasive piece:


This amendment can be used in a good and bad way it is just how you interpret it. But sometimes the excessive bails are high for low crimes and low bails for serious crimes. So sometimes excessive bails should be put so that way it will just make everybody pay.


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Or Give me Death By: Ann Rinaldi

Anne's profile was on a glogster not on a face book. You said it was fine.
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